Khushroo Dhunjibhoy, Jain to fight it out in RWITC polls on Dec 17

Until recently, it used to be a one-man race at the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) elections. But not any more. The stage is set for the ‘derby’ with incumbent chief Khushroo Dhunjibhoy and the former chairman Vivek Jain gunning for the chairman’s post in the 98th Annual General Body Meeting scheduled at Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai on December 17.

Ten candidates are in the fray for this prestigious election. Talking to dna, the members said that it would be a very close call unlike in the previous three years wherein it was just a formality.

“We have everything out in the open for the general public who are the main players in this sport,”said Dhunjibhoy.

Jaydev Mody, Ram Shroff, Shyam Ruia and Shivlal Daga form the Dhunjibhoy lobby. Dhunjibhoy’s tenure for the next 12 months will be decided by the 2000-odd members who will caste their votes.

Former chairman Vivek Jain, who could not make it to the chair in the last elections, admitted that this year it will be different and a close call.

“We had all our four members garnering maximum votes, but unfortunately we could not get the magic figure of five,” said Jain, who has roped in G Vahanvaty, the club’s steward, in his camp.

Meanwhile, this year’s election will be held after the AGM unlike last year when the members cast their votes while the meeting was still on.